Is the award category exclusive?

Yes, and Best in Business Award does not designate runners-up.

What are the eligibility requirements to be considered for the Best in Business Award?

The business or professional must be nominated as a first step.  Anyone may submit a nomination through our website at BestInBusinessAward.com.  Every fall we begin our selection process for the following calendar year.  Once all the online nominations are compiled, sorted and confirmed, every nominated business or professional starts on a level playing field.

As a first litmus test, the nominated business or professional must be able to pass muster with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Nominees do not have to be an accredited member of the BBB to be considered for our Best in Business Award, but they do need to be able to demonstrate a consistent track record of responding to BBB complaints. The most critical item we’re looking for on a company’s BBB profile report is confirmation that ALL complaints filed against them through the BBB receive a response.  Otherwise, their nomination is eliminated and disqualified.

Next, the owner/operator of the nominated business must agree to an assessment interview with Best in Business Award.  Questions will range from the amount of liability insurance the company carries, hiring practices of its employees and scope of work to customer service procedures, involvement in civic/charitable activities within the community and a check for any pending litigation against the company.

Discerning the business’ or professional’s experience level and overall reputation in the community is the final and most important step of our process, since Best in Business Award only designates one recipient per category.  Here we’re looking for characteristics of integrity, quality and trust…the very cornerstones of our award. We rely on feedback from other recipients and/or community leaders who would know the nominee’s background, how the business owner is viewed from a humanitarian aspect, etc.

Why does Best in Business refer to votes as nominations and winners of its award as recipients?

Unlike some other recognition-based awards programs, ours is not a popularity contest.  A vote implies there’s a final tally and that the one who garners the most of them is named the winner. Instead we solicit nominations, go through an extensive selection process; then designate only one business or professional as the category exclusive recipient of our award.

Does the business or professional receiving the most nominations become the award recipient automatically?

Not necessarily.

Then why the #1 reference in your logo?

Because the final determination of which business or professional is designated the award distinction in a particular category is made by Best in Business Award.  In other words, it’s our #1 choice.  Realistically a business could receive the most nominations from consumers in a particular category and still not receive the award.  This is because the general population may not be aware of that company’s poor track record of responding to BBB complaints, out-of-compliance issues with their respective industry’s guidelines, negative publicity surrounding an isolated incident, or that the company may no longer even be in business.  Hence the selection process.

Can a recipient receive the award for multiple years?

Yes. In fact, some have actually received the award for 15+ consecutive years. For others, however, the award designation has been for just one year.